The U.S. job market is leaving many Americans discouraged, even with millions of job openings, Inc. reports.
Gallup found that just 28% of U.S. employees believe it is a good time to find a quality job. One factor contributing to that frustration is the prevalence of ghost jobs—job postings for positions that companies do not actually intend to fill.
According to The Wall Street Journal, research from Greenhouse found that nearly 19% of jobs posted online were ghost jobs. Separately, a ResumeBuilder survey found that 40% of surveyed hiring managers said their company had posted a fake job listing in 2024. Companies may post these listings with the aim of building a pipeline of potential candidates, signaling that the company is growing or maintaining leverage over existing employees.
For job seekers, the practice can mean spending significant time applying for positions that may never be filled, contributing to frustration and eroding trust in the hiring process.
The issue is also drawing increasing attention from lawmakers. Pennsylvania has proposed legislation that would establish requirements and penalties related to ghost job postings. New York’s legislature has passed a bill requiring certain job advertisements to disclose information about when an employer intends to hire, while New Jersey has similar legislation under consideration.
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating LinkedIn over allegedly fake and misleading job opportunities, including listings shown to users who pay for LinkedIn Premium. The investigation broadens the issue beyond employers themselves to the job platforms that host and distribute these listings.
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